Role of Tau Protein and Some Other Biochemical Parameters in Hypothyroidism Patients

Abstract

Hypothyroidism (HPT) is a disorder of the thyroid that is commonly prevalent in males and females worldwide. Women are more likely to develop HPT than men. In HPT, the thyroid gland cannot compete with the requirement of the body for thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), even when the gland is stimulated with a high amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). HPT is linked widely with obesity in males and females. Tau protein is a peptide found mainly in the central nervous system (CNS) and linked to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. In our research, tau protein was investigated in the pathophysiology of HPT on three levels that include age, body mass index (BMI), and gender comparisons to specify the influence of hypothyroidism and these variables on the expression of tau protein and identify the risks of hypothyroidism on the CNS. The results have shown a significant (P<0.05) increase in tau protein level in HPT patients compared to people with normal thyroid function. Nevertheless, obesity, age or gender did not show any significant influence on the level of tau protein in HPT patients and control. Tau protein has shown excellent sensitivity in the prognosis of HPT. In conclusion, tau protein was observed to be elevated in the HPT patients of this study. This suggests an important role of HPT in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases.